dchoya72
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,488
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Post by dchoya72 on Jan 21, 2019 12:18:04 GMT -5
I hope the team can jell more, develop better chemistry, and make better decisions. They know who they are, each of them, and what they can do best...operate from there!
With regard to Jamorko, I believe at some point he will make a leap with regard to shooting his jumper--I still believe it is a matter of footwork. I hope that Mourning can regain some of the form and game skills he showed at the game his father attended. He is a big body and makes a difference. I believe Coach Ewing has to use the assets of his roster. They just have to play to win, have confidence and implement to the best of their ability what the coaches demand or suggest. On-court leadership must come from someone on the court. I believe it is Akinjo who must step up. He fought to establish himself as the leader and point guard -- Now he must walk the walk and be an extension of the coach on the floor. Go Hoyas, February is coming. Step up, don't wilt!!
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Jan 21, 2019 14:57:06 GMT -5
We need to be very good defensively tonight. According to KenPom, Creighton is the 10th most efficient/potent offense in the country. We need to get stops and prevent Creighton from torching us from 3.
The flip side to this is that Creighton is not particularly strong defensively (#189), so we need to take advantage and put up some points.
How about this for a plan - let's win the turnover battle and not hamstring the effort from the outset!
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hoyaboya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,478
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Post by hoyaboya on Jan 21, 2019 14:57:52 GMT -5
I expect Pat to have the guys fired up. This is a pivotal game for the season so far, maybe even a must win. This is a "must win" if we have any tourney ambitions. Creighton, DePaul, Provy, SH, and Butler are the teams we must beat at home if we want any chance of making the tourney. I know there are quite a few people on the board that believe we aren't a tourney team but I'm not there yet. I'm unfortunately am a optimist and as long as the team has a chance I'm hanging on tight.... By "tourney ambitions", I hope you mean the NIT. Because barring a spectacular 3-day run at MSG, we aren't making the NCAA tournament.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 21, 2019 16:24:09 GMT -5
This is a "must win" if we have any tourney ambitions. Creighton, DePaul, Provy, SH, and Butler are the teams we must beat at home if we want any chance of making the tourney. I know there are quite a few people on the board that believe we aren't a tourney team but I'm not there yet. I'm unfortunately am a optimist and as long as the team has a chance I'm hanging on tight.... By "tourney ambitions", I hope you mean the NIT. Because barring a spectacular 3-day run at MSG, we aren't making the NCAA tournament. I hear what you are saying. But given the incredible (pedestrian?) balance in the conference, I don't know that a "spectacular" run will be needed - it could just take 2 solid games and one fairly big upset.
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Post by upstatesaxa on Jan 21, 2019 17:11:48 GMT -5
Look guys... I have been following this year's squad with optimism. I was sitting in a famous Syracuse barbecue joint as we earned that lead and I wanted to stand up and shout "Manley Field House is STILL closed!!!" Of course I would have had to fight a bar full of bikers to get out of there, and my wife and kid do not have training in edged weapons and Brazilian jiu jitsu.
But the more I have watched this year, the more I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that while the physical talent level has been dramatically upgraded, we still play just well enough to lose (Providence game excepted)... I don't know what is off in the combination of heart, on-court smarts, basketball skills and [gulp] coaching, but we seem to find a way to lose more often than we do find a way to win. Obviously I am looking for that to change.
I am not throwing Big Pat under the bus. I wonder about a guy like Coach Orr, who probably has played/watched/coached more than a thousand games over the years... can't he help prevent some of these meltdowns? Scare the kids into listening to coach? Same with our other assistants. Pat has big shoulders, the big smile and gets paid the big bucks. But it cant all be on him. Tonight should be a good test after some time away.
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drquigley
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,386
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Post by drquigley on Jan 21, 2019 17:42:02 GMT -5
Clearly, the posters on this Board are seriously conflicted.
There are the realists who understand that this is truly a rebuilding year and anything better than last years record and maybe avoiding a Wednesday BET play-in game would constitute a successful season. That would be me.
There are the die hards who feel that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE may keep us in the hunt for a top 4 BE finish and an NIT invitation.
There are the dreamers who think that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE plus a few Novenas and nightly rosaries will vault us to a Saturday night BET final game and a bubble entry into the big dance.
There are the trolls waiting in the wings to pounce on PE, the University, the students, and Cap One Arena if we don't finish above 5-13 in the BE and lose our Wednesday afternoon game.
Am I missing anyone?
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 23,358
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Post by prhoya on Jan 21, 2019 18:00:40 GMT -5
Clearly, the posters on this Board are seriously conflicted. There are the realists who understand that this is truly a rebuilding year and anything better than last years record and maybe avoiding a Wednesday BET play-in game would constitute a successful season. That would be me. There are the die hards who feel that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE may keep us in the hunt for a top 4 BE finish and an NIT invitation. There are the dreamers who think that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE plus a few Novenas and nightly rosaries will vault us to a Saturday night BET final game and a bubble entry into the big dance. There are the trolls waiting in the wings to pounce on PE, the University, the students, and Cap One Arena if we don't finish above 5-13 in the BE and lose our Wednesday afternoon game. Am I missing anyone? Top 4 BE finish = NCAA Tournament, not NIT.
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Jan 21, 2019 18:01:37 GMT -5
Clearly, the posters on this Board are seriously conflicted. There are the realists who understand that this is truly a rebuilding year and anything better than last years record and maybe avoiding a Wednesday BET play-in game would constitute a successful season. That would be me. There are the die hards who feel that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE may keep us in the hunt for a top 4 BE finish and an NIT invitation. There are the dreamers who think that a combination of young talent, good coaching, and a weakened BE plus a few Novenas and nightly rosaries will vault us to a Saturday night BET final game and a bubble entry into the big dance. There are the trolls waiting in the wings to pounce on PE, the University, the students, and Cap One Arena if we don't finish above 5-13 in the BE and lose our Wednesday afternoon game. Am I missing anyone? I would consider 8-10 to represent a solid step forward and a building block laid. That's sort of my bogey. If we get to 9-9 or 10-8, I'd be pretty darn happy for the players and Ewing. However, none of the 3 scenarios results in anything close to an NCAA bid. I also recognize that a conference record worse than 8-10 is a ~50% probability. So, I guess I'm pretty darn negative compared to most on this board. It's funny, the difference between the terms "realistic" and "negative" depends on what side of the prediction ledger you fall. Let's fry some bird tonight!
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kettlehill
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,149
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Post by kettlehill on Jan 21, 2019 18:06:52 GMT -5
The are absolutely no more “good losses”. None, nope,nada, zip. Win!
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Post by veilside21 on Jan 21, 2019 19:24:30 GMT -5
i think we can win this... they dont have thomas anymore ...
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,596
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Post by DanMcQ on Jan 21, 2019 20:15:59 GMT -5
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guhoyas32
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 143
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Post by guhoyas32 on Jan 21, 2019 20:17:49 GMT -5
Jagan in for Akinjo in the starting lineup...
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hoyas315
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,102
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Post by hoyas315 on Jan 21, 2019 20:23:41 GMT -5
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daveg023
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,352
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Post by daveg023 on Jan 21, 2019 20:24:04 GMT -5
Jagan in for Akinjo in the starting lineup... Well I guess that answers the initial response from Pat. Will be interesting to see if it’s just ceremonial or less PT. We need James so I hope it’s just the former, but really like Pat is taking this step to get his attention.
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Post by RockawayHoya on Jan 21, 2019 20:26:48 GMT -5
Malinowski also starting for Pickett.
The message is being sent (again) to those who needed them. Let's hope this is finally the spark.
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 23,358
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Post by prhoya on Jan 21, 2019 20:27:04 GMT -5
I like the hockey sub of Akinjo, Pickett/Kaleb, and Trey/Kaleb at the 15' mark, depending on the fouls and who is hot on both sides.
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Post by HometownHoya on Jan 21, 2019 20:39:00 GMT -5
Hope this pays off and James gets the message. If James and Pickett step up, this team will be unstoppable.
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mfk24
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,759
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Post by mfk24 on Jan 21, 2019 20:48:45 GMT -5
Mac got robbed there, defender was in the restricted area.
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Post by HometownHoya on Jan 21, 2019 20:50:02 GMT -5
Nice 3 by Jessie with a man in his face
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 23,358
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Post by prhoya on Jan 21, 2019 20:53:05 GMT -5
That 3 by Creighton opened up when Mac tried to steal the C's ball
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